CRSI POSITION PAPER | MAY 2019 A New Model for Community ... · 6 CRSI Position Paper: A New Model for Community Refugee Sponsorship in Australia 5 These are the fees charged by ‘Approved

CRSI POSITION PAPER | MAY 2019

A New Model for Community Refugee Sponsorship in Australia

CRSI Position Paper: A New Model for Communit y Refugee Sponsorship in Australia2

X Footnote here.

CRSI Position Paper: A New Model for Communit y Refugee Sponsorship in Australia 3

Table of ContentsExecutive Summary 4

Our concerns with the current Community Support Program 6

What lessons can Australia learn from Canada? 6

A Better Way: The Proposed Model 8

1. Community sponsorship places are in addition

to the Refugee and Humanitarian Program 8

2. Who can be sponsored? 8

3. Who can sponsor? 9

What about individuals? 9

What about businesses? 9

4. Who pays for what and how much should it cost? 10

5. Settlement support 12

6. Supporting Community Organisations (SCOs) 12

7. Resources, training, and support for sponsors 13

8. Application support and difference

between UNHCR and named refugees 13

9. Sponsor matching and approval 13

10. Sponsorship monitoring and evaluation 13

11. Sponsorship promotion and development 14

12. Funding summary 14

APPENDIX 1: CRSI model of sponsorship 15

APPENDIX 2: Key features of sponsorship model proposed by CRSI 16


1 We estimate the cost could be as high as $108,000 assuming that income suppor t is required for the first 12 months post arrival.2 Refugees must come from cer tain priorit y countries and/or groups in order to access visas under this scheme in addition to having satisfied that they are indeed

refugees and in need of international protection.

Executive SummaryMembers of the Australian community have repeatedly called for the oppor tunity to help resettle more refugees in Australia in order to do their bit in responding to the global refugee crisis. Australians from different backgrounds – ranging from rural communities to inner-city groups – are eager to raise funds, open their homes, offer jobs and volunteer their time to help those fleeing persecution to build a new life in Australia. A new community sponsorship model would harness the goodwill and compassion of Australians to increase the number of resettlement places offered by Australia and contribute to the successful settlement of refugees in active and cohesive Australian communities.

Australia has a long tradition and credible record of enabling communities to sponsor and help resettle refugees.

Previous refugee sponsorship models, such as the Community Refugee Settlement Scheme star ted in 1979, have used

a combination of government and private funding and involved community groups (including faith communities)

volunteering their time and resources to help new refugees settle. Other community sponsorship responses, including

our response to the Balkans refugee crisis in the 1990s, have demonstrated the Australian community ’s willingness to

welcome refugees and to provide material and psychosocial suppor t in the early settlement phase.

In early 2018, a number of concerned organisations joined together to form the Community Refugee Sponsorship

Initiative (CRSI) – the Refugee Council of Australia, Save the Children Australia, Amnesty International Australia, the

Welcome to Australia initiative, Rural Australians for Refugees and the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce.

We believe there is potential to build on Australia’s proud histor y of community sponsorship to scale up our nation’s

response to the current global refugee crisis. We are calling on the Australian Government to adopt an inclusive, well-

designed and community-led refugee sponsorship program that draws on the most successful aspects of the Canadian

private sponsorship experience. Not only would this enable Australians to play a greater par t in helping those fleeing

conflict and persecution, it would also positively enhance Australia’s international reputation on responding to forced

migration. Community sponsorship can be the catalyst to enrich civic life in the communities in which it takes place and

also foster social cohesion and the par ticipation of humanitarian migrants in those communities.

Concerns with current Community Support ProgramAustralia’s current private sponsorship program for refugees, the Community Suppor t Program (CSP), is not designed

to encourage widespread community par ticipation in the welcoming and suppor ting of refugees. Instead, it essentially

operates as a ver y expensive family reunion program that risks placing serious financial pressure on newly arrived

refugee families who are desperate to reunite with loved ones still living in conflict or in limbo overseas. High government

visa fees and other intermediar y fees mean that sponsoring a family of five could cost over $100,000, with only half

of that money actually going to provide material suppor t to the family involved.1 The CSP engages criteria which risks

excluding those refugees who are in most urgent and desperate need of resettlement, including criteria with respect to

‘employability ’, English language proficiency, age, and countr y of origin. 2 Finally, places within the CSP are not in addition

to the government-funded Refugee and Humanitarian Program, which means the 1,000 visa places made available under

the CSP reduce the number of places for government-funded resettlement – places which should be reser ved for the most

vulnerable refugees in need of resettlement.

A better way – our proposed modelThere is a better way to involve the Australian community in sponsoring and welcoming refugees to Australia. Drawing on

best-practice from around the world, including Canada, we have designed a model for community refugee sponsorship

which utilises the energ y, resources and social capital of the wider community to successfully welcome more refugees to

Australia each year.


3 The term ‘refugee’ in this paper refers to any person who would qualif y for a visa under the existing Australian refugee and humanitarian program (visa subclasses 200, 201, 202 and 204)

4 This policy objective needs to be considered in the contex t of any future expansion of the Special Humanitarian Program and related policy settings

It builds on four key policy objectives:

• Expanding the number of refugees3 who can rebuild their lives in Australia each year beyond those who enter under the government-funded humanitarian migration program

• Ensuring that those most vulnerable and in need of resettlement as a durable solution (as determined by UNHCR) are prioritised for resettlement to Australia under this program

• Enabling diaspora communities to resettle par ticular individuals (including family members) in a way that is deeply suppor ted by the involvement of members of the broader local communit y in which they live4

• Fostering connectedness, cohesion and communit y revitalisation within Australian communities

Our model eliminates exorbitant visa and intermediar y fees and reduces the cost of sponsorship so that it reflects the

actual cost of suppor ting the sponsored refugee(s) in their first year in Australia – making sponsorship more attractive

and accessible to would-be sponsors from the Australian community.

Community members who would like to sponsor a refugee or refugee family would need to form a group of at least five

people under the auspice of an approved and registered non-profit Suppor ting Community Organisation. The group must

raise enough funds to suppor t the basic needs of the sponsored refugee(s) during their first year in Australia (including

income suppor t, if needed) while also helping with the new arrivals settle in their new community. Professional settlement

organisations would play a role in training and suppor ting sponsor groups, utilising training guides and resources

developed at a national level.


5 These are the fees charged by ‘Approved Proposing Org anisations’, through which all applications must be made. APOs set their own fees for providing this ser vice, with some charging up to $20,000 for a family of five.

6 For a full outline of what Australia can learn from the Canadian communit y sponsorship program see https: // w w w.refugeecouncil.org.au/publications/repor ts/canada-private-sponsorship/

7 See http: //ccr web.ca /en/private-sponsorship -refugees

Our concerns with the current Community Support ProgramCRSI has a number of concerns with respect to the current Community Suppor t Program (CSP), a private refugee sponsorship scheme which commenced operation in early 2018.

Firstly, the program focuses on individuals or businesses being sponsors, rather than requiring the involvement of a group

of individuals from the Australian community in the sponsorship. By only allowing lone individuals and/or businesses to act

as sponsors, there is a risk of relationship breakdown, financial pressure and exploitation. In addition, this approach does

not take advantage of the settlement and integration benefits entailed when there is broader community engagement

with a newly arrived migrant or family.

Second, the costs associated with the scheme are prohibitively high. We estimate that the cost of sponsoring a family

of five (two adults with three young children) could be more than $100,000, including visa fees of around $30,000,

intermediar y fees of up to $20,0005 and an assurance of suppor t of around $35 ,000 to cover income suppor t for the

sponsored family, to the extent to which they rely on social security in the first 12 months of arrival.

Third, the CSP currently gives priority to applicants who are: (i) considered ‘job ready’; (ii) are from certain priority countries;

(iii) have ‘adequate English’; and (iv) are willing to settle in regional areas of Australia. The ’job ready’ and English requirements

are likely to privilege those with the highest education and skill levels, rather than those in most desperate and urgent need of

resettlement. The country-of-origin requirements also may function to preclude those in most urgent need of resettlement.

Finally, the CSP program currently sits within the Refugee and Humanitarian Program, which has a fixed annual visa quota,

resulting in the privatisation of part of the government’s pre-existing resettlement commitment. The 1,000 visa places made

available under the CSP are deducted from the number of refugees who will be offered resettlement in Australia through

the government-funded program, rather than enlarging the number of refugees who can rebuild their lives in safety in

Australia each year.

What lessons can Australia learn from Canada?Australia has much to learn from Canada’s experience over the past 40 years with its community sponsorship program.6

In Canada, private sponsorship of refugees (PSR) has been par t of the resettlement landscape since the Indochinese

refugee crisis in the late 1970s and is estimated to have resettled more than 300,000 refugees since. Typically, this has

occurred via religious, ethnic, community, or ser vice organisations who are Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) or

Groups of Five (five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents). All sponsors agree to give ‘emotional and financial

suppor t to the refugee for the full sponsorship period’ and raise the equivalent of one year of social security, which is held

in a trust account and paid to the sponsored refugees to meet their settlement expenses. The required cash amount can

be reduced by in-kind commitments of housing , clothing , furniture, household goods and food.

Canada’s most effective and high-functioning Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) provide a good

model for community sponsorship partnerships in Australia. These SAHs bring together:

• Trained and suppor ted volunteers from the broader communit y

• Close connections with refugee communities

• Clear and ef fective settlement plans developed in par tnership with local settlement agencies

• Par tnerships with businesses to help refugees find employment

• Fundraising programs to g ather the suppor t required for their sponsorship work

• High standards of accountabilit y, lodging high qualit y sponsorship applications with government and monitoring the work of par tners and volunteers to ensure that sponsorship under takings are met

A clear lesson from Canada is that members of the broader community who are contributing to, and engaged in, community

sponsorship programs want their efforts to add to the government’s existing commitments to refugee resettlement. They do

not want governments to use their goodwill as a means of saving money on pre-existing commitments and will be less likely to

engage with the program if their efforts do not add to the national refugee response.7


X Footnote here.


8 The term ‘refugee’ in this paper refers to any person who would qualif y for a visa under the existing Australian refugee and humanitarian program (visa subclasses 200, 201, 202 and 204)

9 This policy objective needs to be considered in the contex t of any future expansion of the Special Humanitarian Program and related policy settings

We have developed an alternative model for community refugee sponsorship in Australia which draws upon the best aspects of the Canadian community sponsorship experience. Adoption of the below model could allow Australia to develop a world-renowned community refugee sponsorship program at minimal cost to the ta x-payer. In doing so, Australia could enhance its humanitarian response to forced migration significantly and in a way which would facilitate the efficient and deep integration of refugees into the Australian community. It would also provide an oppor tunity to leverage the compassion and generosity of Australians to meet Australia’s international responsibilities to suppor t refugees in need of protection.

We urge policy makers to consult with interested community members and refugees in designing the more detailed

features of Australia’s community refugee sponsorship program and would be happy to facilitate such an exchange.

A better, fairer Community Refugee Sponsorship Program should focus on the following four key policy objectives:

• Expanding the number of refugees8 who can rebuild their lives in Australia each year beyond those who enter under the government-funded humanitarian migration program

• Ensuring that those most vulnerable and in need of resettlement as a durable solution (as determined by UNHCR) are prioritised for resettlement to Australia under this program

• Enabling diaspora communities to resettle par ticular individuals (including family members) in a way that is deeply suppor ted by the involvement of members of the broader local communit y in which they live9

• Fostering connectedness, cohesion and communit y revitalisation within Australian communities

The below outlines the key feature of our proposed model for a truly community-led refugee sponsorship

program in Australia.

1. Community sponsorship places are in addition to the Refugee and Humanitarian Program

We propose that a community refugee sponsorship program be developed outside of the Refugee and Humanitarian

Program quota. Star ting at 1,000 places, the program could grow over five years to allow the sponsorship of 10,000

people per annum.

2. Who can be sponsored?Community sponsorship should provide resettlement opportunities for those in most urgent need of resettlement as identified

by UNHCR, as well as those seeking family reunion in Australia and those who Australian employers may wish to sponsor.

Sponsored refugees should be required to meet the eligibility criteria for one of the existing visa subclasses in the Refugee

and Humanitarian Program, namely:

• Those found to be a refugee by UNHCR (Refugee visa, subclass 200)

• Those who are other wise subject to substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of their human rights in their home countr y (Special Humanitarian Program, subclass 202)

• Those who qualif y for an In- Countr y Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 201)

• Women at Risk (subclass 204)

Sponsored refugees should not be selected based on their employability, English language ability, religion, age or any

other characteristic unrelated to their protection needs or the nature of their relationship with their proposed sponsor.

Priority should be given to those identified by UNHCR as in most urgent need of resettlement by quarantining at least half

of the quota for this program for UNHCR-referred refugees.

A Better Way: The Proposed Model


The remaining places would be available for ‘named’ refugees (those who are proposed by individuals in Australia, such as

a family or community members, or in some cases, a business). There should be no restrictions on where a refugee is from

or is currently residing , provided they can demonstrate their ongoing need for protection and resettlement, as per the

existing visa criteria for the relevant subclass.

3. Who can sponsor?Those individuals wishing to sponsor refugees would form a group (sponsor group) under the auspices of a registered non-

profit organisation such as an incorporated community association, local council, religious organisation or other not for profit

organisation). Such registered non-profit organisations are referred to in this paper as ‘Supporting Community Organisations’

or ‘SCOs’. The term ‘sponsor’ is used in this paper to refer to the sponsor group working under the auspices of an SCO.

SCOs should be non-profit associations registered in an Australian state or territory. Together the SCOs and sponsor group

must be able to demonstrate capacity to raise funds and support settlement for the first year and must undergo training on

refugee settlement before being approved. This training could be provided by experienced settlement service providers.

Each sponsorship group would require at least five members who live in the same geographic community and must also:

• include individuals who are not related to the refugee(s) to be sponsored and who are well-established members of their local communit y;

• be able to collectively demonstrate (through the details of a ‘sponsorship agreement ’ ) an abilit y to provide practical suppor t to the sponsored individual(s) upon arrival; and

• have raised suf ficient funds to reimburse the government for income suppor t provided to the beneficiar y through Centrelink in first 12 months in Australia.

In view of the potential for a high level of interest in a well-constructed community refugee sponsorship program, the

Australian Government should set high standards for organisations and individuals wishing to engage in community

sponsorship of refugees. SCOs must be expected to meet clear benchmarks for financial accountability, screening and

training of volunteers and staf f, as well as integrity and suppor t to the refugees they sponsor. This should be set out

in a sponsorship agreement between the sponsor group, the SCO and the Government. A reputable organisation with

experience in providing professional refugee settlement ser vices would train and suppor t sponsor groups and SCOs.

What about individuals?

Individuals are vital to a successful community sponsorship model. However, we believe that the responsibility of

sponsoring refugees should not rest on a single individual alone. There is a risk that people may no longer be able to

provide ongoing suppor t, or that there may be a breakdown in the relationship between an individual sponsor and

refugee. As such, individuals wishing to sponsor a refugee should do so as a member of a larger sponsorship group

involving other volunteers working under the auspices of a Suppor ting Community Organisation.

Aside from the risk associated with reliance on individual sponsors, we believe that a successful community sponsorship

model should involve the wider community in the settlement process. The current model of private sponsorship in Australia

essentially operates as a de-facto family reunion program, placing significant pressure on family members (many of whom

are newly settled refugees themselves) to raise the substantial funds and provide support on arrival. While family reunion

for refugee families is an urgent issue that must be addressed, a community refugee sponsorship program should not be

primarily about families simply sponsoring other family members without broader community involvement. A program that

only engages family members as sponsors cannot offer refugees the access to the level of support and social capital that can

be provided by a larger group of sponsors from the broader local community.

Former refugees wishing to sponsor the migration of their family members to Australia could do so within the program

we propose under the auspices of an SCO with other volunteers from the broader community becoming involved in the

sponsor group. By involving members of the broader local community in sponsorship groups, people in Australia wishing

to sponsor their family members would not have to bear the entire financial or practical responsibilities of sponsorship.

Under this model, former refugees in Australia can also help identif y those in need of resettlement, suppor ting the

community sponsors to connect with refugees overseas.


What about businesses?

Businesses also play a vital role in the sponsorship and settlement process. However, we believe that businesses working

on their own are not well placed to provide ongoing settlement suppor t and assistance for sponsored refugees. Where

businesses can provide financial suppor t and employment oppor tunities, they should par tner with an SCO and a broader

group of volunteers (which may include the employees of the business) to under take the sponsorship and be required to

fulfil the same criteria as other sponsorship groups. This will ensure that the sponsored individual/family receives the full

range of settlement suppor t they need, not just employment.

Businesses of fering employment to sponsored refugees should be able to of fer this employment as an of fset to the costs

which the sponsor group is expected to raise. Under this model, if a business employs a refugee, the sponsor group would

not have to raise funds to cover the costs of government income suppor t for the period in which the person is likely to

be employed. However, if a person does not continue employment and requires income suppor t through Centrelink in

their first 12 months in Australia, the cost of this would be reimbursed by the sponsor group. Where a business provides

employment to a sponsored refugee, the refugee employee should be af forded the same wages, conditions and rights as

other employees in Australia.

Aside from being involved in sponsor groups, some businesses also wish to donate funds to help cover the costs of

sponsorship by other sponsor groups – this should be permitted and encouraged.

4. Who pays for what and how much should it cost?Our proposed model of community sponsorship contemplates the sponsor group covering the costs of air fares and

medical checks prior to the sponsored refugee’s arrival in Australia, as well as their basic needs in their first 12 months of

living in Australia. This should include the cost of setting up a household, rent, food and other basic living expenses.

Our proposed model eliminates government visa fees and the fees currently charged by Approved Proposing

Organisations under the CSP. Eliminating these fees would reduce the cost of sponsoring a family of five to between

$20,000 and $50,000, depending on the extent to which income suppor t is required in the first year af ter arrival. This

compares with a potential cost of over $100,000 under the current CSP. The cost of sponsoring an individual would be

between $7,000 and $20,000, depending on the period of income suppor t required. The cost of sponsorship could be

fur ther reduced if sponsors are able to provide in-kind suppor t such as free accommodation or furniture. Our model

anticipates the provision of government funding for the development of national sponsorship resources, community

capacity building and localised training and suppor t for sponsor groups.

Pre-arrival costs

Sponsors should be expected to cover the costs of air fares and medical checks required before arriving in Australia. This

will var y depending on where the person is located and the cost of cer tain medical checks. On average, this will likely cost

around $2,000 per person.

On-arrival support

Once the sponsored individual/family arrives, the sponsors should be expected to provide initial shor t-term

accommodation, furniture, appliances, basic essentials, and have funds available for other costs involved with establishing

a home. This is likely to cost around $5 ,000 per family group. Where sponsors are able to provide these items in-kind, this

can of fset the amount they are expected to raise for on-arrival suppor t.

Income support

Sponsored refugees should have access to income suppor t including rent assistance, on par with other permanent

migrants and refugees. Income suppor t payments would be paid to the sponsored refugee by the government through the

usual Centrelink procedures.

However, the sponsor group would be expected to raise funds to cover the amount of income suppor t that may be

required by the refugee for the first 12 months. This money would be raised prior to the sponsorship being approved and

would be held in trust by the SCO, with the Federal Government entitled to bill the SCO to recover these costs at the end of

the 12-month sponsorship period.

This will ensure that sponsored refugees have reliable access to income support through a pre-existing and regulated national

mechanism. It will also reduce the administrative burden on organisations and will help to minimise difficulties arising between

sponsors and refugees with respect to income support, as well as minimising the potential for exploitation or fraud.


10 These figures are estimates calculated in April 2018 based on income suppor t entitlements as at that time.

The following is an over view of the levels of income suppor t that will likely be required for individuals and family groups:10

Where refugees do not require income suppor t to the level of the funds held in trust (for example, because they are able

to find full-time employment within the first year), any un-used remaining funds can be used by the sponsor group or

Suppor ting Community Organisation to sponsor other refugees or repaid to the individual members of the sponsor group

in propor tion to their original contributions. This system would create an incentive for sponsor groups to help refugees

become financially independent as soon as possible.

Accommodation

Sponsors should provide initial shor t-term accommodation and help refugees find long-term accommodation,

preferably on arrival. At the ver y least, sponsors would need to raise funds to cover the cost of rent assistance provided

to sponsored refugees through Centrelink (outlined above). However, if the sponsor group is able to provide suitable free

accommodation acceptable to the sponsored individual/family and meeting minimum government requirements, the

sponsor group would not be required to raise funds to cover Centrelink rent assistance payments.

Other social security supports

Sponsored refugees should have access to Medicare, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, primar y and secondar y

education, the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), Federal employment ser vices (DJSB), Commonwealth suppor ted

university places and the Higher Education Loan Program, on par with refugees resettled through the Refugee and

Humanitarian Program. These costs should be borne by the Australian Government.

Af ter one year of settlement, sponsored refugees should continue to receive social security suppor t from the

government, on par with refugees resettled through the Refugee and Humanitarian Program.

A family of five (two adults and three children): • Newstar t Allowance – $486.50 per par tner for tnightly

• Parenting payment – $486.50 for tnightly for principal carer

• Rent assistance – $178.78 for tnight

Total: $1,638.28 fortnightly ($42,595.28 per year)

An individual: • Newstar t allowance $538.80 for tnightly

• Rent assistance – $134 .80 for tnightly

Total: $673.60 fortnightly ($17,513.60 per year)

A single mother with two children:• Newstar t Allowance – $582.80 for tnightly

• Parenting Payment – $752.60 for tnightly

• Rent assistance – $158.34 for tnightly

Total: $1,493.74 fortnightly ($38,837.24 per year)


5. Settlement supportSponsors should be responsible for providing settlement suppor t during the first 12 months af ter arrival. This should

include, at a minimum, practical suppor t on par with the ser vices provided by settlement ser vice providers to other

resettled refugees under the Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP). This includes meeting families at the airpor t,

providing shor t term accommodation and suppor t to find long term accommodation, orientation suppor t, enrolling in

school and the AMEP program and eventually finding employment.

Settlement support may also include the following, depending on the needs of the individual(s) involved:

• Provision of an initial food and essential items package

• Assistance to register with Centrelink and Medicare and to open bank account(s)

• Addressing health needs

• Instructions on what to do in an emergency situation and how to access interpreting ser vices

• Orientation to local ser vices and public transpor t

• Awareness of Australian customs and cultural norms

• Suppor t to access mainstream ser vices, including health and family suppor t ser vices

• Connections to local communit y groups and activities

• Help to enroll in relevant education and training and recognise pre-arrival skills and qualifications

• Assistance to eng age with employment ser vices, implement employment strategies and access suppor t ser vices for establishing a business

• Weekly contact with oppor tunities for English language conversation

• Informal translating and interpreting ser vices when not other wise available

It is anticipated that sponsor groups will provide this suppor t themselves through the ef for ts of their own members and

other community volunteers where required. It is expected that sponsor groups and SCOs will have an array of personal

networks which they are able to draw upon to suppor t sponsored refugees in their settlement journey. As discussed

above, sponsor groups and SCOs would be required to undergo training from a professional settlement ser vice provider

before being approved to engage in refugee sponsorship.

Sponsored refugees should also have access to the Translating and Interpreting Service and specialised torture and trauma

counselling where needed, on par with other resettled refugees. This should be funded by the Australian Government.

Af ter one year of settlement, sponsored refugees would be eligible to receive additional settlement suppor t through the

Settlement Engagement and Transition Suppor t program and other ser vices, on par with refugees resettled through the

Refugee and Humanitarian Program.

6. Supporting Community Organisations (SCOs)The Suppor ting Community Organisation (SCO) would play a crucial linking role between sponsor groups (comprising

individuals) and the Australian Government. SCOs in ef fect under write the commitments made by sponsor groups,

of fering the government access to a registered legal entity in the community that can vouch for capacity of the sponsor

group, assist the sponsor group where required and step in to assume the responsibilities of the sponsor group in the

event that there is a breakdown in the sponsorship. Together the SCOs and members of the sponsor group must raise the

necessar y funds, undergo settlement training and demonstrate their capacity to suppor t settlement for the first year.

SCOs and sponsor groups would also need to establish a relationship with a professional settlement ser vice provider

in order to have a resource to approach for advice and assistance when they are unsure of how to handle cer tain issues

during the 12 month sponsorship period.

SCOs could include registered not for profit organisations such as community associations, faith-based organisations,

spor ting clubs, schools or universities.

In the event that the sponsorship is driven by an employment oppor tunity in Australia, the employer would par tner with

individual volunteers and an SCO to ensure that the responsibilities of sponsorship are shared across a number of actors

in the community.


7. Resources, training, and support for sponsorsTraining materials and know-how resources should be developed by a single body at a national level, such as a government-

funded not for profit organisation.

This body should be staf fed by individuals with exper tise in refugee settlement and related ser vices in Australia, to ensure

that the training materials and know-how resources are adequate to ensure that sponsor groups are well-prepared

to meet the needs of those whom they sponsor and have a sound understanding of the relevant ser vices available to

sponsored refugees in the community.

These national training materials would be made available to professional settlement ser vice providers (which might

include organisations that are currently Approved Proposing Organisations under the CSP) in proximate locations to

the sponsoring group. These local professionals would be tasked with providing pre-sponsorship training and related

cer tification to sponsor groups and SCOs as well as supplementing the national training resources with local know-how.

These professional settlement ser vice providers would also be a resource for sponsors and SCOs to call on as they

prepare their sponsorship applications and in the event that advice is required during the first 12 months of settlement.

8. Application support and difference between UNHCR and named refugeesAs mentioned above, both UNHCR referred refugees and ‘named refugees’ (refugees proposed by community members

in Australia) will be eligible for community sponsorship. However, at least 50% of the program should be set aside for

UNHCR referred refugees, in order to ensure priority for the most vulnerable refugees. UNHCR referred refugees also

require less administrative processing , as UNHCR does their refugee status determination and assesses their need for

resettlement. As such, the Australian Government does not need to re-assess the person’s refugee claim (as is currently

the practice with all UNHCR referred refugees). UNHCR referred refugees will simply need to be matched to a suitable

sponsor (discussed in the following section).

However, many community members in Australia may also wish to sponsor a refugee whom they know or have a

connection to, such as a family member, ethnic community member or similar relationship. For this process, the refugee

would need to apply for and meet the criteria for one of the humanitarian visas set out above (as is currently the practice

with any proposed refugee). Sponsors will need to suppor t the refugee applicant to complete their required paper work.

A key element of this application is proving that they are a refugee or other wise subject to substantial discrimination

amounting to a gross violation of their human rights in their home countr y. While a sponsor group may be able to

complete this form with their nominated refugee relatively easily, they may wish to utilise the ser vices of a migration

agent. Guidelines on cost estimates and expected ser vices should be provided to sponsors to avoid any unscrupulous

migration agents taking advantage of sponsors.

9. Sponsor matching and approvalSponsor groups and their applications would be vetted by the Australian Government before approval. Approved

sponsorship applications would be recorded by the Australian Government (immigration of fice) in a database which

identifies the characteristics of the sponsorship circumstances on of fer. Named refugees proposed by a sponsor group

will already be matched with their sponsors. However, refugees who are referred to the Government for resettlement by

UNHCR can then be matched with appropriate sponsors, with sponsors given a shor t period of time in which to confirm

their willingness to proceed with the sponsorship.

10. Sponsorship monitoring and evaluationMonitoring of sponsorship arrangements would be conducted by the training organisation referred to above. Monitoring

could involve separate discussions with both the sponsor group and the sponsored refugee(s) at two points in the

sponsorship period – af ter one month and af ter six months – to identif y and help the par ties address any issues of concern.

The Australian Government would work with the full spectrum of stakeholders to evaluate the program af ter its first year

and then on an ongoing basis.


11. Sponsorship promotion and developmentThe federal government would fund a single body to promote sponsorship across Australia and, through par tnerships

with settlement ser vice providers and others, cultivate the creation of sponsor groups in Australian communities.

In the early stages a ‘clustered’ approach could be taken, which focuses on capacity building in key communities that have

expressed an interest in settling refugees, though overseas experience sug gests that clusters of sponsors are likely to

develop organically in key locations (which may or not be the same as those which are targets for strategic capacity building).

12. Funding summarySponsor group:

• Pre arrival expenses (roughly $2,000 per person plus migration agent fees, where required (allow up to $5 ,000)

• On arrival suppor t (roughly $5 ,000 per family unit)

• Income suppor t (repayment of any Centrelink suppor t at the end of the first 12 months up to $18,000 for an individual

(including rent assistance), $43 ,000 for a family of 5 , or $39,000 for a single parent with two children)

Note: Sponsors would not be required to pay any substantial government visa fees.

A small administrative fee could be used to prevent spurious applications.

Federal government:

• National body to eng age in capacit y building and develop national training materials

• Suppor t for a network of settlement ser vice providers to train, suppor t and monitor sponsor groups in relevant communities

• Vetting of sponsorship groups/applications

• Par ticipation of sponsored refugees in federally funded programs identified above (eg AMEP, Medicare, DJSB programs, NDIS, higher education suppor t)


APPENDIX 1: Overview of sponsorship model proposed by CRSI

Refugees

UNHCR referred individuals (via government matching)

(at least 50% of the program)

‘Named’ individuals (via personal connections)

(balance)

Local Sponsors

Sponsor group (community volunteers)

Employer (optional)

Supporting Community Organisation (SCO)

Proximate settlement service provider (pre-sponsorship

training, ongoing support to sponsors and monitoring)

National capacity building/training organisation

Federal government(vetting sponsors, matching sponsors and UNHCR-referred

refugees, issuing visas, and overseeing scheme)

Funding

Sponsorship

Training/ capacity building

Training, support and monitoring


1. Who can be sponsored?

Individuals meeting eligibility criteria for under the existing Refugee and Humanitarian Program including:

• Those found to be refugees by UNHCR (the Refugee visa, subclass 200)

• Those who are otherwise subject to substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of their human rights in their home country (the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP), subclass 202)

• Those who satisfy the criteria for related visa categories (ie subclass 201 (In-Country Special Humanitarian), and 204 (Women at Risk)

At least 50% of the quota for this program should be quarantined for UNHCR-referred refugees, with the balance available for ‘named’ refugees (primarily family reunion scenarios but also potentially employment-related sponsorships)

2. Who can be a sponsor?

Sponsorship would be under taken by groups of individual volunteers under the auspices of a registered Australian not for profit organisation (a Suppor ting Community Organisation).

Each sponsorship group would require at least five members who live in the same geographic community and must also:

• include individuals who are not related to the refugee(s) to be sponsored and who are well-established members of their local community;

• be able to collectively demonstr ate (through the details of a ‘sponsorship agreement ’ ) an abilit y to provide pr actical suppor t to the sponsored individual(s) upon arrival; and

• have r aised suf ficient funds to reimburse the government for income suppor t provided to the beneficiar y through Centrelink in their first 12 months in Austr alia .

In the case of businesses wishing to employ and sponsor a refugee, the above individual criteria would still need to be satisfied with the business acting as one member of the sponsorship group. This would mean the business working with individuals from its staf f community or from outside the business to collectively meet the obligations of the sponsorship group.

3. What are the obligations of a sponsor?

To pay for expenses associated with migration and the first 12 months in Australia such as:

• pre- depar ture medical checks

• flights to Austr alia

• costs of establishing a home

• living expenses until employment and/or income suppor t is in place (with any subsequent Centrelink suppor t for the first 12 months to be reimbursed by the sponsorship group to the government)

Provide practical suppor t to refugees in the first 12 months of arrival, which should be, at a minimum, on par with the suppor t provided under the Humanitarian Settlement Program. This includes:

• airpor t reception

• on-arrival accommodation and proper t y induction

• provision of an initial food and essential items package

• assistance to register with Centrelink, Medicare and open bank account(s)

• addressing health needs

• instructions of what to do in an emergency situation and how to access interpreting ser vices

• orientation to local ser vices and public tr anspor t

• awareness of Austr alian customs and cultur al norms

• assistance to source long-term accommodation

• suppor t to access mainstream ser vices, including health and family suppor t ser vices

• connections to local communit y groups and activities

• suppor t to register with the Adult Migr ant English Progr am (AMEP) and at tend lessons

• help to enroll in relevant education and tr aining and recognise pre-arrival skills and qualifications

• assistance to engage with employment services, implement employment strategies and access support services for establishing a business.

• weekly contact with oppor tunities for English language conversation

• informal tr anslating and interpreting ser vices when not other wise available

APPENDIX 2: Key features of sponsorship model proposed by CRSI


4. What government-funded services would sponsored refugees be entitled to receive?

Sponsored refugees would have access to the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) as well as universal/mainstream ser vices made available by the federal government including:

• Medicare

• Feder al employment ser vices (ie r ange of progr ams overseen by Depar tment of Jobs and Small Business (DJSB))

• National Disabilit y Insur ance Scheme (NDIS)

• Commonwealth suppor ted universit y places and the Higher Education Loan Progr am

5. What is the role of the Supporting Community Organisation?

The Supporting Community Organisation (SCO) would play a crucial linking role between sponsor groups (comprising individuals) and the federal government. SCOs in effect underwrite the commitments made by sponsors, offering the government access to a registered legal entity in the community that can vouch for capacity of the sponsor group, assist the sponsor group where required and step in to assume the responsibilities of the sponsor group in the event that there is a breakdown in the sponsorship arrangements. Together the SCOs and members of the sponsor group must be able to demonstrate capacity to raise funds and support settlement for the first year, and would undergo training on refugee settlement before being approved. SCOs and sponsor groups would also need to establish a relationship with a professional settlement ser vice provider in order to have a resource to approach for advice and assistance when they are unsure of how to handle certain issues during the 12 month sponsorship period.

SCOs could include organisations such as community associations, faith-based organisations, sporting clubs, schools or universities.

In the event that the sponsorship is driven by an employment opportunity in Australia, the employer would partner with an SCO to ensure that the responsibilities of sponsorship are shared across a number of actors in the community.

6. Who will develop the know-how resources for sponsors?

Training materials and know-how resources should be developed by a single body at a national level, such as a government-funded not for profit organisation.

This body should be staf fed by individuals with exper tise in refugee settlement and related ser vices in Australia, to ensure that the training will result in sponsor groups being well-prepared to meet the needs of those whom they sponsor and have a sound understanding of the relevant ser vices available to sponsored refugees in the community.

This central body would share training materials with settlement ser vice providers within or proximate to the sponsoring group who would provide pre-sponsorship training and related cer tification to sponsor groups and SCOs.

7. Who will train and support sponsors?

Training would be provided in key locations by organisations with exper tise in settlement of humanitarian migrants (such as settlement ser vice providers or organisations that are currently Approved Proposing Organisations (APOs) under the CSP).

Training would draw on the nationally established resources, supplemented by the training providers who would supplement this national material with local know-how.

These organisations would also be a resource for sponsors and SCOs to call on as they prepare their sponsorship applications and in the event that advice is required during the first 12 months of settlement.

8. Who will vet sponsors and sponsorship applications?

Sponsor groups and their applications would be vetted by the federal government.

9. How will UNHCR-referred refugees be ‘matched’ with sponsors?

Approved sponsorship applications would be recorded by the federal government (immigration of fice) in a database which identifies the characteristics of the sponsorship circumstances on of fer. As refugees are referred to the government for resettlement by UNHCR, they can then be matched with appropriate sponsors, with sponsors given a shor t period of time in which to confirm their willingness to proceed with the sponsorship.


10. How will sponsorship arrangements be monitored and the program evaluated?

Monitoring of sponsorship arrangements would be conducted by the training organisation referred to above. Monitoring could involve separate discussions with both the sponsor group and the sponsored refugee(s) at two points in the sponsorship period – af ter one month and af ter 6 months – to identif y and help the par ties address any issues of concern.

The federal government would work with the full spectrum of stakeholders to evaluate the program af ter its first year and then on an ongoing basis.

11. Who will promote sponsorship and develop sponsorship capacity in local communities?

The federal government should fund a single body to promote sponsorship across Australia and, through par tnerships with settlement ser vice providers and others, cultivate the creation of sponsor groups in Australian communities.

In the early stages a ‘clustered’ approach could be taken, which focuses on capacity building in key communities that have expressed an interest in settling refugees, though overseas experience sug gests that clusters of sponsors are likely to develop organically in key locations (which may or not be the same as those which are targets for strategic capacity building).

12. Funding: Who pays for what?

Sponsor group:

• Pre arrival expenses (roughly $2,000 per person plus migr ation agent fees, where required (allow up to $5 ,000)

• On arrival suppor t (roughly $5 ,000 per family unit)

• Income suppor t (repayment of any Centrelink suppor t at the end of the first 12 months up to $18 ,000 for an individual (including rent assistance), $43 ,000 for a family of 5 , or $39,000 for a single parent with t wo children)

Note: Sponsors would not be required to pay any substantial government visa fees. A small administrative fee could be used to prevent spurious applications.

Federal government:

• National capacit y building function and development of national tr aining materials

• Suppor t for a net work of settlement ser vice providers to tr ain, suppor t and monitor sponsor groups in relevant communities

• Vet ting of sponsorship groups/applications

• Par ticipation of sponsored refugees in feder ally funded progr ams identified above (eg AMEP, Medicare, DJSB progr ams, NDIS , higher education suppor t)


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